Dr. Michael Wiseman, Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Dentistry, visited the White House to launch The Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program. The pilot initiative will provide free oral health care to Holocaust survivors. Dr. Wiseman is the Montreal Alpha Omega representative for the pilot project. The program was creating in response to the White House’s call to action to help aging Holocaust survivors. The goal of the program is to improve the overall health of Holocaust survivors by providing medically necessary dental services. Launched in January 2015 the initiative will carry on for the next three years in nine North American cities including Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Seattle. With Montreal being home to one of the largest Jewish communities in North America, it was a natural fit for the project. All dentists will work on a volunteer basis and belong to a local chapter of the Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity. It is estimated that there are currently 500 000 Holocaust survivors living around the world, and a disproportionate number of these survivors are living in poverty. The program will focus on providing care for the most economically vulnerable Holocaust survivors. It is anticipated that each participating dentist will treat between 1 and 2 patients per year and that in the first year between 250 – 300 patients will receive care. The value of the dental care to be provided during the first year of this program is estimated to be approximately $1 million.
